The Truth of the Cross
August 27, 2007
In a time when the Christian book industry is flooded by self-help and do-it-yourself Christianity it is always exciting to see good books come off the presses. R.C. Sproul, no newcomer to the Christian publishing business, has released another fine book. I am excited about it because it is a book that focuses on the doctrine of the cross. There are many new good books dealing with the cross and the doctrine of justification. However, most of these are written for a more academic audience. Happily, Dr. Sproul’s book is written with a popular reader in mind. It is only 167 pages long but it packs a lot of soul thrilling theology. The book, aptly titled The Truth About the Cross, helps prove the point that all good theology is doxological. That is, good theology moves the heart to rejoice and worship.
I am realistic enough to know that a book about the cross of Christ will not sell as many copies as books about how to discover your purpose in life or how to be “a better you” but those who do get a copy and read it will be richly rewarded. The Truth About the Cross will drive you deeper into the central doctrine of Christianity: the cross of Christ. It will drive you deeper into God’s Word. It will make you more grateful. It’s worth the read.
“The prevailing doctrine of justification today is not justification by faith alone. It’s not even justification by good works or by a combination of faith and works. The prevailing notion of justification in Western culture today is justification by death. It’s assumed that all one has to do to be received into the everlasting arms of God is to die.
“In some instances, the prevailing indifference to the cross mutates into outright hostility. I once was asked to deliver a lecture explaining the relationship between the old and new covenants. In the course of delivering this lecture, I referred to Christ’s death as a substitutionary, vicarious sacrifice for the sins of others. To my surprise, someone in the back of the room yelled out, ‘That’s primitive and obscene.’ I was taken aback for a moment, so I asked, ‘What did you say?’ He said it again with great hostility: ‘That’s primitive and obscene.’ At that point, I had recovered from my surprise, and I told the man I actually like his choice of adjectives. It is primitive for a blood sacrifice to be made to satisfy the justice of a transcendent and holy God, but sin is a primitive thing that is basic to our human existence, so God chose to communicate His love, mercy, and redemption to us through this primitive work. And the cross is an obscenity, because all of the corporate sin of God’s people was laid on Christ. The cross was the ugliest, most obscene thing in the history of the world.”
- From The Truth of the Cross by R.C. Sproul
I am realistic enough to know that a book about the cross of Christ will not sell as many copies as books about how to discover your purpose in life or how to be “a better you” but those who do get a copy and read it will be richly rewarded. The Truth About the Cross will drive you deeper into the central doctrine of Christianity: the cross of Christ. It will drive you deeper into God’s Word. It will make you more grateful. It’s worth the read.
“The prevailing doctrine of justification today is not justification by faith alone. It’s not even justification by good works or by a combination of faith and works. The prevailing notion of justification in Western culture today is justification by death. It’s assumed that all one has to do to be received into the everlasting arms of God is to die.
“In some instances, the prevailing indifference to the cross mutates into outright hostility. I once was asked to deliver a lecture explaining the relationship between the old and new covenants. In the course of delivering this lecture, I referred to Christ’s death as a substitutionary, vicarious sacrifice for the sins of others. To my surprise, someone in the back of the room yelled out, ‘That’s primitive and obscene.’ I was taken aback for a moment, so I asked, ‘What did you say?’ He said it again with great hostility: ‘That’s primitive and obscene.’ At that point, I had recovered from my surprise, and I told the man I actually like his choice of adjectives. It is primitive for a blood sacrifice to be made to satisfy the justice of a transcendent and holy God, but sin is a primitive thing that is basic to our human existence, so God chose to communicate His love, mercy, and redemption to us through this primitive work. And the cross is an obscenity, because all of the corporate sin of God’s people was laid on Christ. The cross was the ugliest, most obscene thing in the history of the world.”
- From The Truth of the Cross by R.C. Sproul
